# Sign Regulations in Santa Monica, California

Sign permit rules, size and height limits, setbacks, and ordinance citations for Santa Monica, California, compiled by PermitPal from the jurisdiction's published municipal code.

- **Jurisdiction:** Santa Monica, California (CA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/california/santa-monica
- **Data last verified:** 2026-04-27
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/42751917)

## At a glance

Santa Monica, California regulates 48 sign types across 13 zoning districts. Ground Sign – Pylon (Commercial/Industrial only)s in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at ≤ 16 ft above grade tall, ≤ 40 sq ft per side (including base), and ≤ 30 inches wide (Sec. §9.61.170(A)(3); §9.61.030.0430; §9.61.180(A)(4)). Most commercial signs in Santa Monica require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (13 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 12 | ≤ 16 ft above grade | ≤ 40% of first floor total frontage glass area | — |
| Any Residential Zone (R1, R2, R3, R4, OP1, OPD, OP2, OP3, OP4, RMH, OF) | 4 | — | Either (a) up to 2 signs, each ≤ 8 sq ft; or (b) 1 sign ≤ 16 sq ft and 1 window sign ≤ 4 sq ft | — |
| Main Street Commercial Zoning District | 6 | ≤ 4 ft | ≤ 20% of front building façade area or 100 sq ft, whichever is less | — |
| Bayside Conservation District (BC) | 9 | — | ≤ 20% of front building façade area or 100 sq ft, whichever is less | — |
| Bayside Conservation District (BC, Third Street Promenade Area) | 9 | — | ≤ 20% of front building façade area or 100 sq ft, whichever is less | — |
| R1/OP1—Single Unit Residential District; R2/OPD—Duplex Residential Districts | 2 | — | As provided in §9.61.160(B) | — |
| All Multi-Unit Districts Except the Beachfront District (R3, R4, OP2, OP3, OP4, RMH) | 2 | — | Total nonexempt sign area ≤ 25 sq ft | — |
| R4 High Density Residential District (Hotels) | 2 | — | No single sign may exceed 100 sq ft citywide | — |
| Downtown Districts (LT, NV, BC, TA, OT, WT) | 7 | — | No single sign > 100 sq ft (citywide limit) | — |
| Beachfront Districts (OF) | 2 | — | No single sign > 100 sq ft (citywide limit) | — |
| All Other Commercial and Industrial Districts (MUBL, MUB, GC, HMU, IC, OC, CC, PL, OS, BTV, MUC, CAC, CCS) | 9 | Monument ≤ 6 ft; Pylon ≤ 16 ft | No single sign > 100 sq ft (citywide limit); each business guaranteed at least 25 sq ft of signage | — |
| Off-Street Parking Districts (A) | 1 | — | Same as sign requirements in the appropriate adjacent residential district | — |
| Neighborhood Commercial (NC) | 8 | — | No single sign > 100 sq ft; minimum per business 25 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 13 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Attraction or Reader Board (Changeable Copy) | — | ≤ 20% of total sign area; separate small changeable copy sign ≤ 1.5 ft x 2 ft in NC and Downtown does not count toward total sign area | — | — | NC/Downtown exemption allows one 1.5 ft x 2 ft sign not counted toward total area | On premises; affixed to exterior or visible through window for the 1.5 ft x 2 ft exemption in NC and Downtown | — | §9.61.170(A)(1), §9.61.190(G) |
| Awning Sign | — | ≤ 25 sq ft | — | — | — | Painted/printed on awning surface | — | §9.61.170(A)(2) |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On building wall (or sloped roof as specified) | — | §9.61.170(A)(7); §9.61.170(B); §9.61.180(A)(10); §9.61.200(E)(4) |
| Permanent Window Sign | — | ≤ 40% of first floor total frontage glass area | — | — | — | On or visible through windows/exterior glass doors; must not extend above the second-floor floor line for temporary window signs (see temporary rules) | — | §9.61.170(A)(8); §9.61.120(A)(1); §9.61.190(G) |
| Projecting Sign | — | ≤ 4.5 sq ft (general citywide); BC Third Street Promenade projecting/3D signs have different limits (see BC zones) | — | — | — | Projects from and supported by wall/parapet; must also comply with rules on projecting over public right-of-way (§9.61.230) | — | §9.61.170(A)(9); §9.61.230; §9.61.200(D) |
| Cabinet Sign | — | ≤ 4 sq ft | — | — | ≤ 1 per floor | On premises | — | §9.61.170(A)(11) |
| Ground Sign – Monument (Commercial/Industrial only) | ≤ 6 ft above grade | ≤ 40 sq ft per side (including base) | — | — | ≤ 1 per site | On the ground; horizontal dimension greater than vertical | — | §9.61.170(A)(3); §9.61.030.0300 |
| Ground Sign – Pylon (Commercial/Industrial only) | ≤ 16 ft above grade | ≤ 40 sq ft per side (including base) | ≤ 30 inches | — | ≤ 1 per site | On the ground (no air space between face and ground per ground sign definition) | — | §9.61.170(A)(3); §9.61.030.0430; §9.61.180(A)(4) |

### Bayside Conservation District (BC)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign - Baseline Allowance (Commercial/Industrial) | — | Either (a) up to 2 temporary signs, each ≤ 10 sq ft; or (b) 1 temporary sign ≤ 20 sq ft | — | — | As specified | On private property; not into/over public ROW; not attached to trees, poles, traffic control devices | — | §9.61.160(A); §9.61.160(C)(1); §9.61.160(A)(2)-(5) |
| Temporary Sign - Additional Allowance (Commercial/Industrial) | — | Either (a) up to 2 additional freestanding signs, each ≤ 8 sq ft; or (b) 1 sign ≤ 16 sq ft | — | — | As specified | On private property; same placement limits | — | §9.61.160(C)(2); §9.61.160(A) |
| Temporary On-Premises Banner | — | ≤ 20% of front building façade area or 100 sq ft, whichever is less | — | — | 1 per business for the 60-day period | On front building façade | — | §9.61.160(C)(3); §9.61.160(A)(1) |
| Temporary Window Signs (Commercial/Industrial) | — | ≤ 20% of first floor total frontage glass area | — | — | — | On/visible through first-floor windows | — | §9.61.160(C)(4); §9.61.160(A)(1) |
| Light Bulb String (Permanent on Building) | — | — | — | — | — | On a building | — | §9.61.170(A)(4) |
| Total Sign Area (BC, Promenade-Facing and Upper-Level Corner Wrap) | — | No cap (for the specific faces described) | — | — | — | Façades facing the Third Street Promenade; and upper-level corner wraps on mid-block buildings with Promenade frontage | — | §9.61.200(A), (G), (H) |
| Projecting/Three-Dimensional Signs (BC - Third Street Promenade Facing) | — | ≤ 10 sq ft for 3D signs (sign area measured as viewed from Promenade elevation) | — | — | — | Projecting from façades facing the Third Street Promenade | — | §9.61.200(D) |
| Temporary Signs (BC - Extended Duration) | — | Per §9.61.160 applicable limits | — | — | Per §9.61.160 limits | Within BC | — | §9.61.200(C); §9.61.160(E) |

### All Other Commercial and Industrial Districts (MUBL, MUB, GC, HMU, IC, OC, CC, PL, OS, BTV, MUC, CAC, CCS)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign - Baseline Allowance (Commercial/Industrial) | — | Either (a) up to 2 temporary signs, each ≤ 10 sq ft; or (b) 1 temporary sign ≤ 20 sq ft | — | — | As specified | On private property; not into/over public ROW; not attached to trees, poles, traffic control devices | — | §9.61.160(A); §9.61.160(C)(1); §9.61.160(A)(2)-(5) |
| Temporary Sign - Additional Allowance (Commercial/Industrial) | — | Either (a) up to 2 additional freestanding signs, each ≤ 8 sq ft; or (b) 1 sign ≤ 16 sq ft | — | — | As specified | On private property; same placement limits | — | §9.61.160(C)(2); §9.61.160(A) |
| Temporary On-Premises Banner | — | ≤ 20% of front building façade area or 100 sq ft, whichever is less | — | — | 1 per business for the 60-day period | On front building façade | — | §9.61.160(C)(3); §9.61.160(A)(1) |
| Temporary Window Signs (Commercial/Industrial) | — | ≤ 20% of first floor total frontage glass area | — | — | — | On/visible through first-floor windows | — | §9.61.160(C)(4); §9.61.160(A)(1) |
| Light Bulb String (Permanent on Building) | — | — | — | — | — | On a building | — | §9.61.170(A)(4) |
| Total Sign Area (Other Commercial/Industrial) | — | No single sign > 100 sq ft (citywide limit); each business guaranteed at least 25 sq ft of signage | — | — | — | Street frontage (and alley/parking lot side per §9.61.190(C)) | — | §9.61.190(F)(6); §9.61.190(B)-(E) |
| Ground Signs (Monument/Pylon) – Commercial/Industrial | Monument ≤ 6 ft; Pylon ≤ 16 ft | Per face ≤ 40 sq ft including base | Pylon ≤ 30 inches | — | ≤ 1 per site | On the ground on private property | — | §9.61.170(A)(3); §9.61.180(A)(4) |
| Permitted Wall/Awning/Window/Projecting/Marquee/Neon/Cabinet Signs (Other Commercial/Industrial) | — | Awning ≤ 25 sq ft; Wall sign: ≤ 12 in from wall, letter height ≤ 18 in; Permanent window ≤ 40% first-floor glass area; Projecting ≤ 4.5 sq ft; Cabinet ≤ 4 sq ft, max 1/floor; Marquee: ≤ 12 in projection, ≥ 8 ft clearance; Neon: no area limit beyond total sign area cap; all within total sign area cap | — | — | Cabinet signs ≤ 1 per floor | On-premises | — | §9.61.170; §9.61.180 |

## Prohibited signs in Santa Monica

- Animated signs are prohibited citywide, except the City may use them to preserve roadway safety/traffic circulation and primary/secondary schools may use them on school property for school purposes (9.61.180(A)(1)).
- Balloon signs are prohibited (9.61.180(A)(2)).
- Emitting signs (emit sound, odor, smoke/steam, etc.) are prohibited, except customer communication devices at drive-ins/ATMs/drive-through banks may use sound (9.61.180(A)(3)).
- Freestanding and pole signs are prohibited (9.61.180(A)(4)).
- Miscellaneous signs/posters tacked, painted, posted, or otherwise affixed to buildings, trees, poles, fences, or other structures and visible from a public way are prohibited (9.61.180(A)(5)).
- Off-premises signs are prohibited (9.61.180(A)(6)).
- Paper, cloth, or plastic streamers and bunting are prohibited (9.61.180(A)(7)).
- Portable signs are prohibited except as specifically authorized under the Temporary Signs section or Section 9.61.200 (9.61.180(A)(8)).
- Roof signs are prohibited (9.61.180(A)(9)).
- Upper level signs are prohibited (9.61.180(A)(10)).
- Vehicle signs are prohibited unless the vehicle displays the owner’s business identification while engaged in the usual business and is not used mainly to display advertisements (9.61.180(A)(11)).
- High-rise signs are prohibited (9.61.180(A)(12)).
- Any sign not authorized by Sections 9.61.150, 9.61.160, or 9.61.170 is prohibited (9.61.180(A)).
- No sign may be erected, suspended, or maintained on, across, or above any street, alley, or public property, except as allowed by the Municipal Code or state/federal law (9.61.230(A)).
- No sign may be placed on any property without the written consent of the owner/holder/lessee/agent/trustee (9.61.220).
- Temporary signs are prohibited unless expressly permitted under Section 9.61.160 or exempt under Section 9.61.140; unauthorized temporary signs in the public right-of-way may be collected by the City (9.61.160(F) and 9.61.160(A)(6)).

## Signs exempt from permit in Santa Monica

- Signs inside a structure that are not visible through windows/openings or are located at least 5 feet from such windows/openings and any adjacent window merchandise display base are exempt from the Sign Code (9.61.140(A)).
- Special event signs authorized by a community events permit, license agreement, or temporary use permit are exempt from the Sign Code, provided they are not of specified prohibited types (9.61.140(B) and 9.61.030.0510).
- Pole banners and over-the-street banners authorized under SMMC 4.08.500 are exempt from the Sign Code (9.61.140(C)).
- Noncommercial signs are exempt from the Sign Code, provided they are not of the types prohibited by 9.61.180(A)(1)–(4) and (9)–(12) or by 9.61.230 (9.61.140(D)).
- Signs on bicycles or other shared mobility devices pursuant to a City sponsorship agreement are exempt from the Sign Code (9.61.140(E)).
- Signs placed on public transit are exempt from the Sign Code (9.61.140(F)).
- Signs on or associated with a City-licensed digital wayfinding kiosk in the public right-of-way or on public property are exempt from the Sign Code (9.61.140(G)).
- Building identification signs up to 2 sq ft are exempt from sign permit requirements (9.61.150(A)).
- Information signs up to 2 sq ft each (with one outdoor dining barrier sign up to 24 in x 42 in, and in the Bayside Conservation District one rear sign up to 4 sq ft; max 2 exterior info signs per parcel, or 4 in Bayside) are exempt from sign permit requirements (9.61.150(B)).
- Public signs are exempt from sign permit requirements if not of the types prohibited by 9.61.180(A)(1)–(4) and (9)–(12) (9.61.150(C)).
- Tablets and plaques of metal or stone authorized under 9.56.060(F), not exceeding 24 inches in any dimension, are exempt from sign permit requirements (9.61.150(D)).
- Theatre sign copy or display changes on existing theatre marquee signs or permanently affixed display cases are exempt from sign permit requirements (9.61.150(E)).
- Banners, flags, and pennants that do not directly advertise the on-site business/activity (no more than three per site) are exempt from sign permit requirements (9.61.150(F)).
- Change of copy on previously approved signs, including cabinet sign face changes that only change the message (no change to background/letter color, size, location, or general appearance), is exempt from sign permit requirements (9.61.150(G)).
- Temporary signs that comply with Section 9.61.160 (including basic requirements on illumination, location, maintenance, placement, and avoiding public hazards) are exempt from sign permit requirements citywide, subject to zone/district-specific size and duration limits (9.61.160).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign program is required for all new projects and building remodels that directly affect existing signs, and for any change to a sign in a multiple-unit dwelling; it must accompany the sign permit application and show locations, dimensions, colors, letter styles, and sign types for all signs to be retained, removed, and installed on the site (9.61.070(C)).
- Sign programs in compliance with the Code may be approved administratively by the Director (or the Landmarks Commission Secretary for historic resources); signs consistent with an approved sign program may also be administratively approved (9.61.120(A)(2)–(3)).
- For any sign or sign program on a City-Designated Historic Resource, review and approval by the Landmarks Commission via a certificate of appropriateness is required (administrative approval by the Landmarks Commission Secretary may apply where authorized); appeals go to the Planning Commission (9.61.050).
- A sign adjustment (variance) from any nonstructural provision of the Sign Code may be requested from the Architectural Review Board (or Landmarks Commission for historic resources), subject to required findings; prohibitions in 9.61.180(A)(3), (8), (9), and (10) are deemed nonstructural for this purpose; adjustments cannot be used to retain nonconforming signs subject to removal under 9.61.240 (9.61.130).
- A sign permit is required to place, change, alter, or display any sign unless specifically exempt; applications must include required plans and materials, and, where applicable, the required sign program (9.61.040 and 9.61.070).

## Full detail

This page publishes an overview of every zoning district plus a sample of 3 districts in full. Complete zone-by-zone requirements for all 13 zoning districts in Santa Monica — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Santa+Monica+CA&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-santa-monica

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